MVC Baseball Splits with CMU to Finish Series Saturday

Posted April 12, 2014

Marshall, Mo. (April 12, 2014)- The Missouri Valley College baseball team finished a four-game series against Central Methodist Saturday afternoon at Indian Foothills Park, splitting the doubleheader. CMU won the first game 8-4 but MVC took the second game in extra innings 5-4.

Game one started with neither team able to do much offensively. Freshman Starting Pitcher Justin Ramsey (Alvin, Texas) worked himself out of a two-on, two-out jam in the top of the first inning and put CMU down in order in the second. MVC managed just one base runner in the first two innings and was taken down in order in the second. The Eagles turned things around in the third inning, scoring four runs, three of which came on a one-out homerun. CMU added to its lead in the fourth inning, using three hits to score one run and moved its lead to 5-0 over MVC. CMU continued to add to its lead in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two more runs to now lead MVC by a 7-0 score. The Vikings came through in the fifth inning, and put a dent in CMU’s lead. Sophomore First Baseman Zac Blakemore (Kansas City, Mo.) worked a one-out walk and was brought home when Junior Third Baseman Trevor Duffy (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) smacked a homerun to make it a 7-2 game. However, the Eagles were able to get one of those runs back in the top of the sixth inning to make it an 8-2 contest. The Vikings put together a run in the bottom of the sixth as Sophomore Leftfielder Lucas Doerhoff (Jefferson City, Mo.) knocked a two-out single and was brought home one batter later when Junior Second Baseman Zach McGill (Richmond, Mo.) doubled. MVC tried to mount a rally in the seventh inning, getting a run off a Junior Shortstop Josh Felz (Independence, Mo.) single, but eventually fell to Central Methodist 8-4.

Leading the way for MVC was Sophomore Right Fielder Derrick Leeper (Hamilton, Mo.) who finished two for three with a run scored. Duffy hit his first homerun of the season and to finished with two RBI’s and run scored. Ramsey picked up the loss going 3.2 innings with eight hits and five earned runs.

CMU again took an early lead over the Vikings in game two, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning on four hits. The Eagles added to their lead in the top of the second inning, scoring one run on two hits to lead 4-0. The Vikings only had one base runner in the first two innings, but put together a rally in the third. Duffy led the inning off with a walk and eventually reached third on a fielder’s choice that put Senior Centerfielder Bobby Warchuck (Wichita, Kan.) at first. Later in the inning, Junior Designated Hitter Josh Hartin (Washburn, Mo.) knocked a two-out single to bring Duffy home and cut into the Eagle lead at 4-1. After giving up the four runs in the first two innings, Junior Starting Pitcher Dom Smith (Sedalia, Mo.) went the next four innings without letting CMU cross the plate again. MVC got one more run back in the fifth inning when Duffy hit a solo homerun, his second homer of the day. The Vikings continued to hit homers in the bottom of the sixth, as Hartin and Doerhoff led the inning off with back-to-back solo homers to left-centerfield and tied the game at 4-4. Neither team was able to break the tie through the seventh inning, sending the game into extras. CMU was unable to score in the top of the eighth, giving MVC a chance for a walk-off win. Felz and Hartin both singled to start the inning. McGill came in to pinch run for Hartin, but Felz was caught stealing at third base. After a Doerhoff walk, Blakemore hit a grounder to second base, and CMU seemed ready to turn a double-play and end the inning. However, the throw to first base went underneath the first baseman’s glove, and McGill was able to score from second on the play and end the game with a Viking win at 5-4.

Leading the way for MVC was Hartin who was three for four from the plate with two RBI’s and one run scored. Duffy was one for two with two runs scored and one RBI. Picking up the win for MVC was Duffy who pitched two innings in relief allowing just one hit with one strikeout.

The Vikings move to 8-26 on the season and 7-15 in HAAC play. CMU now sits at 19-17 overall and 11-7 in conference play.

The Vikings will next play a road doubleheader at Harris Stowe State University Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m., in St. Louis, Mo.

About Missouri Valley College

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 40 academic programs, study abroad program, honors program, extracurricular activities, and 13 sports. The most popular majors include education and business, and some new majors are ag-business, nursing, graphic design, and health information systems (associate degree). Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.